Geranium plant named &#39;Zonawite&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  Geranium  plant particularly distinguished by the white flower color, very rich flowering, excellent branching, and green foliage without zone.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED Pelargonium zonale (L.) L'Hérit. ex Ait VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘Zonawite’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new Geranium, botanically known as Pelargonium zonale (L.) L'Hérit. ex Ait, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘Zonawite.’

‘Zonawite’ is a product of a planned breeding program. The new cultivar ‘Zonawite’ has large, semi-double flowers, is relatively vigorous, but with a well-branched growth habit, and has good heat resistance.

‘Zonawite’ originates from a hybridization in a controlled breeding program in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands. The female parent was an unpatented hybrid seedling identified as no.250 with pure white flower color and an early and very rich flowering. The male parent of ‘Zonawite’ was an unpatented hybrid unknown seedling with unknown characteristics.

‘Zonawite’ was selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in 2001 in a controlled environment in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Zonawite’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in the Fall of 2001 in a controlled environment in Enkhuizen, the Netherlands.

Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plant initiated in April of 2002 in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands, and continuing thereafter, has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for ‘Zonawite’ are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

‘Zonawite’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical flower and foliage characteristics of ‘Zonawite’ with colors being as true as possible with an illustration of this type. The photographic drawing shows a flowering potted plant of the new variety.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION ++ The measurements were taken in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands, in August 2005 on plants that were growing in window boxes. Culture of these plants started mid February, 2005 in the greenhouse; plants were transferred to window boxes mid May, 2005. BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The following observations, measurements, and comparisons describe plants grown outside in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of the new variety. The combination of these characteristics distinguishes this Geranium as a new and distinct variety. TABLE 1 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NEW VARIETY ‘ZONAWITE’ AND A SIMILAR VARIETY ‘North Star’ ‘Zonawite’ (U.S. Plant Patent No. 9,971) Vigor Strong Medium Foliage size Medium Big Petiole length Medium Long Flower bud size Small Medium Flower bud color 144C 144B PLANT Plant height (cm): 25 Plant height (inflorescence included) (cm): 37 Plant width (cm): 45 Plant shape: Round FOLIAGE Length (cm): 5 Width (cm): 9 Shape: Reniform Base shape: Cordate Base size (cm): 5 Apex shape: Very weak lobes Apex size (cm): 4.5 Color of upper surface: 137B Color of lower surface: 146A Color of zone: No zone Color of veins: 146D Margin: Bicrenate Petioles length (cm): 5-10 Diameter of petiole (mm): 3 Leaves smooth and hairy: Only at nerves Texture of leaves: Upper surface smooth Veins: Palmate STEM: Length of internodes (mm): 20-35 Color of stem: 145A Diameter (mm): 7 INFLORESCENCE Shape: Round outline Diameter (cm): 11 Umbel depth (cm): 5 Length of peduncle (cm): 12-20 Peduncle diameter (mm): 4-5 Color of peduncle: 144A Length of pedicel (cm): 2.5-3.5 Color of pedicel: 144B Number of flowers per inflorescence: 35 COROLLA Form: Semi double Shape: Round outline, petals do not overlap, flat shape Length of flower (cm): 5.5 Width of flower (cm): 4.5 Number of petals: 5 Length of petals (upper/lower) (mm): Upper 30 Lower 30 Width of petals (upper/lower) (mm): Upper 19 Lower 22 Shape petals: Obovate, base acute, upper end is truncate or rounded, margin is entire Color upper side of upper petals: 155D Color upper side of lower petals: 155D Color lower side of upper petals: 155D Color lower side of lower petals: 155D Number of petaloids: 3 Color petaloids: 155D Fading color when flower starts aging: No Duration of flowering: Continuous flowering throughout the Summer BUD (just before opening) Shape: Narrow elliptic Shape base of bud: Truncate Shape top of bud: Acuminate Sepals hairy and smooth: Yes Length (mm): 5 Width (mm): 2 Color: 144C Number of sepals: 5 Color of sepals: 144C Length of sepals (mm): 8 Width of sepals (mm): 2-3 REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS Number of lobes of stigma: 5 Color stigma: 155D Length of style (mm): 4 Color of style: 155D Number of anthers: 5-6 Length of anthers (mm): 3 Shape of anthers: Ovate Length filaments (mm): 5 Color of filaments: 155D, Top 40D Pollen present: Yes Color of pollen: 32A Fertility/seed set: No

-   Disease/pest resistance: No disease/pest resistance has been     observed to date. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Geranium plant, substantially as illustrated and described herein. 